Matric Equivalent Courses You Can Study Today

A matric equivalent certificate indicates the same level as a matric certificate but in a specialised area of study. They both fall under NQF level 4.

  • Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate
  • Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate
ICB Senior Bookkeeping FET Certificate

Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate

The ICB Bookkeeping : FET Certificate equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge that prepare you to work in senior positions in the Bookkeeping ...
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ICB Small Business Management

Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate

A Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate course equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to start their own small business.
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Often, people study Matric Equivalent Courses to get on the same NQF Level as the Matric Certificate which is NQF 4. You can use your Matric Equivalent Certificate to further your studies or to focus on building skill sets you can use in your professional career.

Education in South Africa is modelled around the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which includes 10 educational qualifications. From NQF Level 1 (Grade 9 Certificate) to NQF Level 10 (Doctorate Degree), there is no shortage of academic qualifications for you to achieve

What Is A Matric Equivalent Certificate?

A Matric Equivalent Certificate is a qualification that is on the same NQF level as the Matric Qualification. These courses are accredited by SAQA to recognise the course as a qualification and group it under the National Certificate (Matric) Level on the NQF system. 

Matric College offers ICB courses that are recognised as a Matric Equivalent Qualification.

What Does Matric or Equivalent Mean?

Matric or Equivalent means a Matric Certificate or a Matric Equivalent Certificate. The term “Matric or Equivalent” is used when referring to requirements, either for employment or a course you want to study.

Where Can I Study A Matric Equivalent Course?

With Us! We are a distance learning institution, available countrywide, giving you an improved educational experience. You can choose how to study, part-time or full-time, all while still working. 

We provide you with coursework and study materials to help you study and offer academic support.

Why You Should Choose A Matric Equivalent Certificate

Choosing to obtain a Matric Equivalent Certificate is a very good option. It is for people who have not completed Matric and want to get a qualification that specialises in a field they want to work in. 

When studying a Matric Equivalent Course you: 

  • Gain a Scarce Skill
  • Work in a specialised field

Gain A Scarce Skill

  • Gaining a Scarce Skill gives you a competitive advantage when seeking employment
  • Scarce Skills and Critical Skills go hand-in-hand
  • There are many careers available as Scarce Skills are in all the employment sectors 
  • You can earn a good salary by having a scarce skill

Work In A Specialised Field

Matric Equivalent Courses specialise in specific career roles that teaches you the skills needed to do the job. You can apply for work in that field or related with your Matric Equivalent Certificate. 

Remember, having a scarce skill helps you to make progress in your career so that you can move up the corporate ladder!

What Courses Are Equivalent To A Matric Certificate?

Matric College offers two Matric Equivalent Courses that are on the same qualification level as Matric. The courses are

You have to complete the ICB National Certificate: Junior Bookkeeping (NQF 3)  first before completing the Bookkeeping ICB FET Certificate (Matric Equivalent Course)

 

All of these courses are offered by Matric College via distance learning, an official provider of ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) qualifications.

Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate

The success of every organisation starts with exceptional management. Business Management is critical to achieving the goals of the company as they drive the plans put in place. Business Managers are people that pay attention to

  • Business and financial best practices
  • Legal and office operations
  • Human resource management
  • Digital 
  • Business strategy 
  • Commerce

The ICB National Certificate: Small Business Management Course is perfect for people that connect with business management and obtain a Matric Equivalent Certificate at the same time. 

The entry requirements to this course are Grade 11 or equivalent or Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate.

Subjects

There are 3 subjects for this course and covers specific topics for each one

  1. Business Management
  2. Bookkeeping to Trial Balance
  3. Business Literacy

What Will You Learn?

Upon completion of the Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate Course, you will have demonstrated an understanding of business documents, processing and recording business transactions and learning how to communicate effectively. You will also show what it means to be a General Manager, managing capital and digital operations.

Jobs You Can Apply For

Completing a Matric Equivalent course can open many doors for job opportunities. This means you can apply for entry-level positions such as:

  • Human Resources Administrator
  • Office Manager
  • Public Relations Practitioner
  • Marketer
  • Junior Researcher
  • Sales Assistant
  • Junior Analyst
  • Legal Administrator
  • Customer Service

ICB FET Certificate: Senior Bookkeeping

Finance is a huge player in any organisation. Finance funds the business and its operations to service its customers and a Bookkeeper is the person appointed by the company to manage this critical part of the organisation. Bookkeepers are responsible for reporting: 

  • Year-end adjustments 
  • Taxes
  • Financial transactions
  • Banking
  • Processed payments 
  • Financial statements

The entry requirement for this course is the completion of the Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate. ICB Courses build on one another where you can obtain a National Certificate, FET Certificate or a National Diploma in an ICB Programme.

Subjects

There are 2 subjects for this course that focuses on crucial bookkeeping topics:

  1. Financial Statements
  2. Cost and Management Accounting

These subjects are a continuation of the subjects completed in the Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate.

What Will You Learn?

Upon completion of the Bookkeeping: ICB FET Certificate you will have demonstrated the understanding of bookkeeping, year-end adjustments, financial reporting for SMMEs, accounts, financial statement analysis, cash flow, cost and management accounts, manufacturing accounts, costing and budgeting. 

Jobs You Can Apply For

With this Matric Equivalent Certificate you can apply to be: 

  • A Senior Bookkeeper
  • Junior Accountant
  • Financial Services Officer
  • Business Analyst
  • Assistant Accountant
  • Credit Controller

Top 10 Reasons To Study an ICB Qualification With Matric College

Here are the top 10 reasons to study a Matric Equivalent ICB Qualification with Matric College:

  1. Matric College is an official provider of ICB Courses 
  2. We have two ICB Courses that offer Matric Equivalent Certificates 
  3. The entry requirements are easy to achieve
  4. You can study part-time or full-time 
  5. ICB courses offered by Matric College are completed via distance learning
  6. The faster you learn the quicker you complete your course
  7. We offer the most up to date syllabus
  8. Our study materials are easy to understand 
  9. ICB Courses are internationally recognised
  10. We offer student support weekdays 8 am – 5 pm

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is an independent external examination body that offers accredited business qualifications in South Africa.

With over:

  • 500 ICB-Accredited providers (Matric College is one of them)
  • 15 000 students every year AND
  • 25 000 successful qualifications over the last 5 years

ICB offers you an opportunity to do a Matric Equivalent Course.


Watch The Matric College CEO Explain The ICB Courses We Offer

Yes, ICB Courses are recognised by other institutions that offer recognition of prior learning. You can use your ICB Qualification to get automatic credits for a course you want to study later. ICB courses are recognised locally in South Africa and internationally. 

Local Recognition 

All ICB qualifications are registered on the NQF and accredited by QCTO (Quality Council For Trade & Occupations) and registered with SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority).  

International Recognition

ICB Courses are internationally recognised by CIMA and ACCA in Canada, USA and UK.

Yes, ICB courses recognise prior learning and work experience when studying an ICB course. If you have previously studied bookkeeping or small business management or worked in those roles, you can apply for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). 

RPL

To be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) you must have prior work experience or achieved qualifications or part-qualifications within the last five years that are registered on the NQF. You can apply for exemptions by submitting documentation of the provider accreditation, the NQF Level and the SAQA qualification number.

Studying an ICB Course requires you to build a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) that includes:

  • 3 assignments
  • 2 open book tests And a
  • Final exam

The assignments and tests are your portfolio of evidence. Digital portfolios are done on the MACCI Portal. How Is The Digital PoE Different From The Paper-Based PoE?

ICB has a student portal called MACCI for students studying an ICB Course. It is a digital platform used to submit assignments, write online tests and complete a digital Portfolio of Evidence. 

ICB is an independent examination body with exam venues across South Africa. Exams are written every second month so as you complete a subject you can write the exam. The exam timetable for the ICB 2023/24 is available online for download.

You can plan your studies accordingly based on the dates on the timetable.

ICB Exam Registration

You can register to write your ICB exams using the ICB Student Portal. Here is how you can complete the exam registration process:

  1. Register as an ICB student by submitting the Student Details form
  2. Complete the Exam Entry Form using the dates available in the timetable

After registering for your exam, ICB will issue you with an admission letter to write the exam.

In-Person ICB Exam

Writing your ICB exam in-person includes going to the exam centre where the exam is. The exams are spread throughout the week allowing you to write more subjects. Distance learning students have 2 opportunities to write the exam in person.

Please note that space is limited for in-person exams and is subject to admission due to COVID Protocols. ICB now allows you to write your ICB exams online.

Online ICB Exam

ICB exams written online are now written every second month starting April 2024 and they are scheduled to be written in the afternoon. Distance learning students have 6 opportunities to write the online exams. Your portfolio of evidence is submitted on the student portal.

Here is how you can prepare for your ICB Exams online:

You will receive your ICB Qualification Certificate within 3 – 6 months upon successful completion of the course you studied. In the meantime you will receive: 

  • An ICB Programme Certificate
  • Statement of results

Once you have been declared competent in the subjects, ICB will authorise FASSET to print your certificate and send it to Matric College, the institute where you studied the course, for it to be awarded to you. 

ICB no longer award certificates for each subject you complete but for the entire course. You will receive a statement of results as proof that you completed the subject. 

Digital Certificates are available for download on the ICB Student Portal under the “My Reports” tab. 

How Do I Study A Matric Equivalent Course With Matric College?

At Matric College we have developed a 9 step plan to get you started with your studies:

Step 1: Contact our course experts online or by giving them a call and register for a Matric Equivalent Course (ICB Course). 

Step 2: Upon successful completion of your registration, we will courier your study materials to your door. 

Step 3: Register as an ICB student on the ICB Student Portal 

Step 4: Register your student account on MACCI to build your Portfolio of Evidence

Step 5: Complete and submit your assignments on MACCI

Step 6: Write open book tests online using the MACCI Portal

Step 7: Complete the exam entry form on the ICB Student Portal to register for the final exam

Step 8: Write your ICB final exam online or in-person (remember to submit your digital portfolio)

Step 9: Matric College will issue your ICB Matric Equivalent Qualification once it is received from ICB and FASSET.

Benefits Of Studying A Matric Equivalent Qualification

A Matric Equivalent Certificate is the beginning of many academic and professional opportunities you can take advantage of. Benefits of a Matric Equivalent Certificate include: 

  • Furthering your Education
  • Advancing in your Career
  • An Opportunity for all

Further Your Education

A Matric Equivalent Certificate can be used to apply for National Qualifications and, in the case of an ICB Qualification, international qualifications. You can apply for further studies at Matric College to do a National Qualification, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. 

With your Matric Equivalent Certificate, you can even study further to achieve a National Diploma.

Career Advancement

The Matric Equivalent courses we offer are scarce skills which are in demand not only in South Africa but the whole world. You can advance your career by obtaining these skills with the Matric Equivalent Courses that we offer.

Opportunity for All

Another, but most important, benefit of studying a Matric Equivalent Qualification is the opportunities it brings to every student. If you have not completed Matric and want to focus on gaining a specific skill for a job, you can study a Matric Equivalent Course to get on the same educational level as the National Senior Certificate (Matric).

ICB Local And International Accreditation And Recognition

As mentioned above, ICB Courses are locally and internationally recognised and accredited by: 

  • QCTO
  • CIMA
  • ACCA
  • SAQA
  • NQF

QCTO

The Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is a quality council that offers guidance to skills development providers (i.e. ICB) private and public. Assessment centres must be accredited by the QCTO to implement occupational qualifications.

QCTO's process - Matric College

CIMA

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) provides training and qualifications in management accounting. CIMA is a global professional body located in the UK. Furthering your studies with CIMA is the route to take after completing an ICB Course.

ACCA

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is the world’s leading body for professional accountants. You can further your education with ACCA with your ICB Qualification and become a Chartered Certified Accountant.

SAQA

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is mandated by the NQF Act to oversee the implementation of the NQF by setting: 

  • Quality Councils
  • Policies and Criteria
  • Registration of qualifications
  • Recognition of professional bodies

NQF

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is a framework developed by the South African government to integrate different educational qualifications. NQF was passed as an Act (Act No. 67 of 2008) in Parliament and is used in Basic and Higher Education. 

What Do NQF Levels Mean?

There are 10 levels of educational qualifications you can achieve. Each level has a qualification or equivalent qualification on the same level.

Is NQF 4 The Same As Matric?

Yes, according to the National Qualifications Framework, NQF Level 4 is a Matric Certificate and Matric Equivalent Certificate (i.e the ICB Courses offered at Matric College). 

When someone speaks about NQF 4 they are referring to the Level the number is on the National Qualifications Framework. Level 4 is Matric and Matric Equivalent Certificates.

nqf levels qcto Matric College

All of Our Matric And Matric Equivalent Courses

Author: Mohamed S. Ajmoodien

Editor: Amy Venter
Date Published:
March 31, 2022

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